An older couple, Elena and Vladimir: he is rich and mean with his money; she is more of a servant than a wife. They’ve been together for about ten years. Elena has a son from a previous marriage; Vladimir has a daughter. Her son is unemployed. His daughter is a bohemian. The unemployed son has his own family: a wife, a baby, and a teenager. The bohemian daughter has no children, no husband – nothing but her cheerless sense of cynicism and a morbid fear of reality.Elena’s son desperately needs money, something which Vladimir is nothing short of. However, he’s in no rush to help his wife’s family.A heart attack puts Vladimir in hospital, where he realizes that his remaining time is limited. He tells Elena his plans for the inheritance: all his money will go to his daughter, while Elena will get a small life-long alimony to support her.The sweet, kind-hearted older woman who commands so much sympathy from the audience comes up with an ingenious plan to kill her husband, take his money, and give her son and grandchildren a chance in life.